15 Facts About Craig Chaquico

Craig Clinton Chaquico is an American guitarist, songwriter, and composer.

Craig Chaquico's mother, Muriel, was a state government employee, and his father, Bill, owned an upholstery business.

When Craig Chaquico was twelve, the car he and his father were traveling in was hit head-on by a drunk driver.

Craig Chaquico's father promised to buy him a Les Paul guitar when he got better.

Craig Chaquico played on Slick's solo album Manhole in 1973.

Craig Chaquico played alongside Jerry Garcia, David Crosby, David Freiberg, and Carlos Santana.

All other band members, including Craig Chaquico, remained with the band.

Craig Chaquico began a solo career that explored world music, new age, and contemporary jazz.

In 2017 Craig Chaquico filed suit against the remaining members of Jefferson Starship, including David Freiberg and Donny Baldwin, over the use of the band name on tour billings and merchandise, citing the 1985 agreement to retire the band name.

Craig Chaquico's first guitar was a Winston acoustic which his mother bought for him when he was 10 years old after he'd given up his parents' idea that he would play an accordion.

Craig Chaquico played a '57 Les Paul Goldtop on the first two Jefferson Starship albums and tours, Dragon Fly and Red Octopus, on such songs as "Miracles".

Into the '80s, Craig Chaquico was sponsored by Carvin Guitars and often appeared on tour, in the studio and in guitar magazine ads playing a Carvin V220 or a Carvin koa doubleneck played through Carvin amplifiers, his favorite being the Carvin X100B.

Craig Chaquico became a believer in the healing power of music after recovering from a car crash when he was twelve.

Craig Chaquico has worked with organizations such as the American Music Therapy Association and Memory and Music which use music therapy with injured and traumatized people and those with various forms of dementia.

Craig Chaquico was named Best Pop Instrumental Guitarist in Guitar Player magazine's 1997 Readers' Poll.